Armstrong & Charlie

Charlie isn’t looking forward to sixth grade. If he starts sixth grade, chances are he’ll finish it. And when he does, he’ll grow older than the brother he recently lost. Armstrong isn’t looking forward to sixth grade, either. When his parents sign him up for Opportunity Busing to a white school in the Hollywood Hills, all he wants to know is "What time in the morning will my alarm clock have the opportunity to ring?" When these two land at the same desk, it's the Rules Boy next to the Rebel, a boy who lost a brother elbow-to-elbow with a boy who longs for one.

From September to June, arms will wrestle, fists will fly, and bottles will spin. There'll be Ho Hos spiked with hot sauce, sleepovers, boy talk about girls, and a little guidance from the stars.
Set in Los Angeles in the 1970s, Armstrong and Charlie is the hilarious, heartwarming tale of two boys from opposite worlds, Different, yet the same.

Although I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher (via netgalley) all opinions remain my own.

My review: 5 out of 5 stars

I thought this book was wonderful. Giving us a view of what it was like right after the segregation ended, when they were busing inner-city black children into the outlying "white" schools. I had never read a story like this one. It was quite amazing to me to see the struggle both sides of this story had.

I loved the characters. Even the pain in the butt (at least at first) Armstrong was, in the end, a quite likable boy. You get to know the things that made him the person he is. And then there is Charlie, another boy with a deep history. It is interesting to see how the boys interact. You also see how Armstrong is treated by other students, staff and even the families of the white school students.

This book finished quite open, but still enough closure with the ending of the school year. Seriously a book that makes you think about things.